On the Run

Summary: Han Solo has gotten to know a young teen named Luke, who drifts between jobs in spaceports. He's not surprised when Luke shows up one day and asks for a lift. He knows the kid is running away from something. However, that something has found Han Solo first and wants his assistance in getting Luke back.

Chewie was finishing loading up the last of the cargo. Han was walking across the open spaceport towards his ship after arguing with the dockmaster. He eyed the other ships. Many were worn down freighters or shoddy passenger ships. Droids rolled and walked around. Many pushed cargo crates. Spacers shouted and barked at each other. Customers seeking rides or shipment for goods milled about.

Han ignored it all. He had his job. It was time to go. He could see the Falcon down the line of ships. His mind was already going over his pre-flight checklist, when he caught a flash of gold in his peripheral vision. He stopped and looked between the ships. Had it been nothing?

Then a small figure slid around some metal crates and walked over. Han's hand slid behind his neck. The kid looked nervous. He glanced around as if he was afraid to be out in the open.

"Luke," Han said. "Long time no see, kid."

Luke smiled. He was a scrawny teen. His blond hair was worn long and shaggy and was a greasy mess. He was dressed in a mishmash of clothes. He had a leather jacket on that was about two sizes too big. Soft pants, but the ends had been wrapped up to below his knees. Boots that were heavily scuffed and stained with oil. He had on two layers of shirts and fingerless gloves. A bag was slung around his shoulder.

"Looking for a ride?" Han asked.

Luke smiled. "If you need the help," he said softly.

There was a tightness in Han's chest. He met the kid two years ago when he had stowed away in some cargo Han was pushing. He quickly found out that the kid was a pretty skilled mechanic, gunner, and a decent pilot. He was useful. Han had offered Luke a spot on his ship, but the kid had declined. He was always skittish. Always looking over his shoulder when they were in port. He grew anxious if they ever stayed in one place for too long. It was he was running from something. Something he was afraid would catch up to him.

Han felt the raised scar on the back of his neck.

"Of- of course I do," he said.

Luke smile grew. Han let his hand drop from his neck and patted Luke on the back. The kid followed him back to the ship. Chewie has happy to see the kid and pulled him into a big hug. It didn't take long for them to leave the port and jump to hyperspace. The stars stretched and the blue whorls of hyperspace filled the viewport.

A sigh came out of Luke. Han turned around to face him. He noticed the heavy bags under his eyes and how thin he was. Chewie also seemed to notice. He let out a concerned growl.

"Chewie is right," Han said. "You like shavit. When was the last time you had a good bath and a place to sleep?"

Luke guilty smiled. "It's been some time," he said.

"Go use the Falcon's sonic and get some sleep," Han said.

"You sure?" Luke asked.

"Not much to do," Han said leaning back and crossing his behind his head. "We've got to make to another jump here in a moment, but beyond that . . . not much going on."

"You sure? I could go look at the engine or even the-"

Chewie growled. He stood up and grabbed Luke by the arm. The kid shot Han a look that asked for help.

"Hey kid, no one stands in the way of the Wookie," Han said as Chewie dragged him out of the cockpit towards the crew quarters.

One of Han's hands fell down to his side. The other reached under the collar for the scar. It was healed over, but he imagined it was still red. The ship shook as it reverted to real space. Han closed the door to the cockpit as he pulled out a small comlink from his pocket. There was only one frequency on it. He dialed it and waited.

"Solo," came a smooth dark voice.

"I got the kid," Han grumbled.

There was a slight pause. "I told you, didn't I? He would eventually come back," said the voice. It was smug and pleased.

Han rolled his eyes. "Just give me the coordinates," Han hissed softly.

"Sending them to you now. Good job, Solo."

"You just keep up your end of the bargain," Han growled as he leaned over and entered the coordinates into the ship's computer.

"As long as you keep up your end," the voice said. The call disconnected.

Han's hand sat on the hyperspace lever. He thought about Luke. His bright blue eyes. His shy smile. Then he recalled the scar on his neck. He gritted his teeth as he pushed the lever up. What choice did he have? None.

Han recalled running into the man some months back.

"Han Solo?" the man asked.

Han looked at him. He was pale skinned human. Middle-aged. His dark hair was short and neatly styled. He wore a long black overcoat and shiny black boots. Two guards in plastoid armor hovered behind him.

"Who's askin'? Han said as he looked the man over.

"Mercel Veno," the man said. It sounded like a fake name.

"What you want?"

"Have you seen this child?" Mercel asked as he held up a small holodisk.

The holograph jump up showing a face. A face Han recognized. Luke looked younger and neatier. His hair was shorter and nicely comb. He wore what looked to be some sort of uniform. But Han said nothing to the man. Mercel clicked the holograph off and tucked the disk into his pocket.

"Come now, Solo," Mercel said. "I know Luke has been on your ship four times over the past year and a half."

"What's it to you?" Han asked. "You don't look like his father."

Mercel smiled and shook his head. "That I do not, but I work for his father. Luke ran away from home. I am just trying to bring him home."

"And what if Luke doesn't want that?"

"Luke is a child. He hasn't reached the age of majority. His father holds all custody rights."

Han narrowed his eyes. He knew Luke. He was a good kid, and knew Luke was running away from some demons. Han had never asked, it wasn't his business.

"Sorry, pal," Han said. "Can't help you. He's not on my ship right now. Haven't seen him in three months."

"That I'm aware of," Mercel said unphased. "But I have a feeling that sooner or later your paths will cross with young Luke again. All you have to do is contact me, deliver Luke to me, and you leave with a hefty payment."

"I'm not in the slave business," Han growled as he turned to walk away.

"Tsk, tsk," Mercel said softly. "I had hoped you would have taken the money."

Han didn't look back. He should have. He would have seen Mercel's guards raise their guns. He might have been able to get a shot or two off. Instead he was hit straight in the back with the stun bolt. He remembered waking up in a strange dark room tied to a chair. His neck was in pain. Mercel walked over and grabbed his hair and pulled his head back.

"You feel that, Solo?" Mercel hissed. Whatever kindly businessman act he had been putting up had faded away. "That is a slave chip inserted into the base of your skull. One touch of a button from me, and you explode into a million tiny pieces."

"You're crazy," Han said. His voice was weak and unsteady.

"You see, Solo, you work for me now. You are my slave," Mercel said.

"I ain't doing nothing for ya," Han said.

"Then it shall be your funeral," Mercel growled. "But don't worry. You can keep up on doing whatever it is you do. All I want is for you to bring me Luke. Once you do that, I will take that slave chip out of your neck. You'll be free to go."

"And what about Luke?" Han asked bitterly.

"He'll go home to his father," Mercel said.

Han felt the scar on the back of his neck where the slave chip had been inserted. He couldn't stop the guilt creeping up in him. He pushed himself out of the pilot's chair and walked to the crew quarters. Luke sat on one of the bunks. His skin a fresh pink from the sonic shower. Chewie must have left to give the kid some time alone. That or find something for the kid to eat. Force, he was thin.

"Feel better?" Han asked. "More human perhaps?"

Luke smiled. "I suppose," he said.

"You know, after I finish with this job, I was thinking about going to Corellia," Han said. "I'm from there, you know."

"I didn't know that," Luke said.

"It's home, but it's also . . . not," Han said with a sigh as he sat next to Luke. "Was an orphan. Grew up on the streets. Had to join a gang just to survive."

Luke was quiet. He brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs.

"You ever think about . . . going home?" Han asked.

"Nothing there," Luke said softly.

"Let me guess, got no family either?"

Luke squeezed himself tighter. "There's my father . . ." he said softly. He looked so young. Han wondered how old Luke really was. Fifteen? Sixteen?

"He hit you?"

Luke's had snapped up. His eyes big.

"He hit you?" Han asked again. "Abuse you?"

"No- no!" Luke said. Then he looked down. "No," he said sadly this time. "He just . . . did something unforgivable."

"So you ran away?"

Luke only nodded. Han sighed and placed a hand on Luke's hair. He ruffled the now soft and clean hair. Luke knocked his hand away.

"Some family is just shavit," Han said. Luke smiled. "Now get some rest," Han said. He got up and left the kid alone.

Han had left leaving Luke alone. He buried his head into his knees. He didn't like thinking about his home or his father. He leaned over and fell against the bunk. The ship had come out of hyperspace, but had quickly jumped again. Luke closed his eyes and sleep quickly took him.

He wasn't surprised that he dreamed. It was odd that the dream was taking place in the bunkroom of the Millennium Falcon. The very place Luke was sleeping in. However, it was not odd when a shadow fell across the door and the sound of a respirator filled the room.

Luke curled up on the bed and rolled over to face the wall ignoring the sound of heavy boots walking into the room and stopping next to the bunk.

"Luke," came a deep voice. Luke just curled up tighter. "Luke, do not ignore me."

A large gloved hand touched his shoulder. Luke spun around and smacked the hand away. He glared up at his father. Darth Vader straightened up and looked down at his son.

"Go away," Luke barked. "Leave my dreams in peace. I just want to sleep."

Then he turned back around and curled up.

"You haven't been sleeping," Vader said. His voice soft for as soft as his modulated voice could get.

"Tch. Maybe it's because each time I do, you're almost always there."

Because it was the only time Luke relaxed. The only time his shields fell. The only time Vader was able to connect to his son via their Force bond. And if Luke didn't catch it fast enough, Vader would figure out his location.

"Luke, stop this foolishness," Vader said. Luke rolled his eyes. He had heard this speech a hundred times now. "Come home."

"You burned my home down, remember?" Luke said bitterly.

If Vader reacted, if he flinched, Luke didn't see it.

"That . . . that was not your home," Vader said slowly.

"Yes, it was my home."

Vader let out an annoyed sigh. This conversation was running on the same tracks their conversations had run on for two years now. There wasn't anything Vader could say that he hadn't already, because deep down Vader wasn't sorry for what he had done. For killing Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Which he did because he was jealous. Jealous that Luke had picked them over Vader. Something Vader couldn't stand.

Vader first came into Luke's life when Luke was eight years old. Luke was starry eyed to see his father alive even if he was a large cyborg who always wore a mask. Of course he had no hesitations about leaving the moisture farm behind to go to the stars. It was just like he had always dreamed of. His uncle and aunt were against this, but Luke insisted. And since Luke had insisted, they let him go. Perhaps that was what had saved them from Vader's wrath at the time.

At first Luke enjoyed living with his father. He loved learning about the Force. He loved traveling on the warships. He loved seeing all the different planets. But slowly Luke started to like it less and less. The more he saw of how the Empire did things . . . of how his father did things . . . And those same things were expected of Luke to do as well.

So when Luke was thirteen he ran away. He went back to Tatooine, because he'd rather be a moisture farmer than a Sith. And for a short while, everything was good. His aunt and uncle welcomed him back with open arms and smiles. Luke had even started building his own skyhopper to race with his friends through the canyons.

But the happiness wasn't to last. Because Vader returned for his son. He did ask first. He asked for Luke to come back with him. It was this moment Luke went back to. What if he had said yes? Would his aunt and uncle have been spared? Like they had the first time? Or would Vader still have killed them? Luke didn't know. He didn't ask. Because the moment he could, he ran away again.

He couldn't be around his father. His father who had killed his aunt and uncle. Who had relished in their pain and deaths. Luke had been on the run with his father hunting him down ever since. It had now been two years. Two very long years. Two years of meeting with his father like this in his dreams. Two years of the same conversation. The same argument.

Vader could say he was sorry, but he wasn't. At least not for the deaths of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Not for torching their homestead. Even if Vader apologized, they both knew the truth. He wasn't sorry. He was only sorry that it had caused Luke to run away. Thus creating the standoff between them.

Vader sighed, or at least sighed as well as he could with his respirator. A large hand gently slid into Luke's hair. Luke didn't smack it away. Vader gently started stroked Luke's hair. It was odd how gentle Vader could be. How loving he was in this moment, when Luke had seen the man murder so easily and gleefully before.

"You are worn out, little one," Vader said with his soft voice. "You are far too thin. You haven't been sleeping or eating well."

"Well perhaps you should stop sending all those bounty hunters after me," Luke said. But his voice had lost its bitter edge. Now he just sounded tired and sad. Pressure and heat were building up in his cheeks below his eyes. He rolled his head so he was face down in the pillow. `

Vader didn't say anything more. It was only the sound of his respirator evenly breathing and his hand softly stroking Luke's head. Despite doing his best to fight it off, the tears still bubbled up. They burned his eyes and cheeks. He did his best to hide his sobs from his father.

"Rest, Luke," Vader said,"You are safe here."

That was true. In hyperspace Vader couldn't discern his location. There were no bounty hunters lurking in the shadows.

"I'm so tired," Luke said. His voice muffled from the pillow. Hopefully it hid his crying as well.

A second hand came to rest against his back and rubbed it in soothing circles. Despite how much bitterness he had towards his father, Luke couldn't help but relax some. He was tired. So tired. His eyelids felt so heavy. He closed them and relished in how good it felt. He could feel himself drifting away. But as he did, he heard his father. The voice sounded distant and far away.

"Sleep, my son," Vader said. "Soon this will all be over."

It was the last thing Luke was aware of as he drifted off to sleep.

Darth Vader stood on the bridge of his flagship. The rest of his fleet were nearby. They were in the middle of nowhere as their commander, their supreme commander, had ordered them out of hyperspace early. They all knew they were waiting for something, but none dare questioned it.

Vader knew the ship bringing him his son should arrive soon. Then finally after two long years, Vader could set things right with his son. Repair the damage that had been done. Even if he wasn't completely sure how to do that. Well the first step was for them to be together. No more of this running around the galaxy. Vader had become increasingly concerned with his son's physical state over the years. Luke would need some intensive care when Vader finally had his child back.

Something bright flashed in the emptiness of space in front of the fleet. Vader froze. He wouldn't have been breathed if his respirator didn't do it for him. He couldn't sense Luke. He was here! Vader watched as the run-down freighter approached. It was escorted by two TIE fighters straight to his ship. He turned sharply away from the viewport and made his out of the bridge to his private hangar.

Lieutenant Vemenos stood calmly in the hangar as the ship landed. He wore the uniform of the ISB. He had been tasked with finding Luke.

"Lieutenant," Vader said as he approached.

"Lord Vader," Vemenos said with a smile. "Hopefully this scoundrel has kept his word and your son is aboard."

"He is," Vader said looking at the ship.

The loading ramp lowered and a man walked down with his hands up. He was looking straight at Vemenos.

"Ah, Solo," Vemenos said. "Good to see you have followed orders."

"What choice did I have?" Solo growled.

Vader wasn't paying attention. He walked passed them.

"Hey!" Solo shouted at Vader.

He was a brave and foolish man, but Vader didn't have time to deal with him. He would let Vemenos and the troopers do their job. For now his mind was set on one thing. He walked up the ramp and followed the pull of his son's presence into a small bunkroom. Just like in the Force dream, Luke was curled up tightly on the bunk. For a second Vader stood there frozen.

Luke was here. He was here! Finally, he had his son again.

Cautiously, slowly, he crossed the room. He slowly lowered his hand into Luke's hair, and just like in the dream stroked it. After a minute he had finally collected himself enough. He slipped his arms under his son and hoisted him up into his arms. Luke shifted into his sleep and naturally curled up against Vader's chest. But he didn't wake up and for that Vader was grateful. He didn't want to drag a screaming crying child off the ship. But he would, if he had to.

He exited the ship. Solo watched on with a clenched jaw and his arms across his chest. A Wookie stood next to the man and let out a sad howl. Vemenos nodded seeing father and son finally together. He turned and starting talking to Solo. Most likely discussing payment.

Vader brought his son up to his personal quarters and into Luke's old room. He gently laid his son down on his bed. He pulled the covers around Luke. Then he just watched his son sleep. Because he knew he had to enjoy this peaceful moment while it lasted. His little boy was back where Vader could take care of him. But he knew once that little boy woke up, the arguments would start.

But hopefully instead of running away, the two could sit down and work this out. The two could return to some semblance of a family again. Vader was willing to be patient. He hoped Luke would be too. Then again, not like Luke would have much choice as Vader had made very, very sure his son would not be able to run away a third time.